Problems
What to know about each one, with sources. Questions? Ask us.
Removing standing water and drying the building is what "water mitigation" means. EPA guidance for clean-water damage lists water extraction, dehumidifiers and fans for wet carpet, and says to dry water-damaged materials within 24 to 48 hours to help prevent mold growth. Some materials can be dried in place and some have to come out.
First stop the water: in Charlotte, Charlotte Water says your master shut-off valve is on the house side of your meter, inside the house. Fixing the pipe is a plumbing job. Drying the floors, walls and cabinets around it is a separate job.
A sagging or dripping ceiling can be holding water. Stay out from under it and move what you can. Find the source first: a roof leak needs a roofer, a plumbing leak needs a plumber, and the wet area still needs drying.
Sewage is contaminated water. EPA guidance says not to use fans before you know the water is clean, and that contaminated water calls for protective equipment and containment. Keep kids and pets away and let a professional handle it.
Water under the house or in a basement is easy to miss. EPA guidance on drying within 24 to 48 hours applies here too. If the cause is drainage or the foundation, that repair is a separate job from drying it out.
EPA guidance says mold growth will not always happen after 48 hours, and that it can happen even when materials are dried within 48 hours. If you smell or see mold after water damage, have it looked at.